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Influence of natural disasters on social engagement and post-disaster well-being: The case of the Great East Japan Earthquake

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  • Okuyama, Naoko
  • Inaba, Yoji

Abstract

In addition to multi-faceted damages and losses, natural disasters can alter the conditions of social capital resources by affecting people’s attitudes and perceptions. We challenged empirical investigations to explore this issue by focusing on social engagement in the post-disaster period of the Great East Japan Earthquake, March 2011. Two main research topics are addressed: the influence of natural disasters on social engagement and that of social engagement on post-disaster subjective well-being. Crucial findings of our analysis include that daily interactions with neighbors, friends, and acquaintances are lower among those who suffered less damage than those who suffered the most. On the other hand, formal participation in local collective groups is higher among those who were most devastated by the disaster. The analysis of the second topic revealed that interactions with neighbors, friends, and acquaintances affected by the disaster relate positively to subjective well-being proxied by life satisfaction among those affected by damages with a considerable monetary impact.

Suggested Citation

  • Okuyama, Naoko & Inaba, Yoji, 2017. "Influence of natural disasters on social engagement and post-disaster well-being: The case of the Great East Japan Earthquake," Japan and the World Economy, Elsevier, vol. 44(C), pages 1-13.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:japwor:v:44:y:2017:i:c:p:1-13
    DOI: 10.1016/j.japwor.2017.10.001
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    2. Waseem Akhter & Khalid Zaman & Abdelmohsen A. Nassani & Muhammad Moinuddin Qazi Abro, 2020. "Nexus between natural and technical disaster shocks, resource depletion and growth-specific factors: evidence from quantile regression," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 104(1), pages 143-169, October.
    3. Nobuaki Moriyama & Hajime Iwasa & Masaharu Tsubokura & Yujiro Kuroda & Seiji Yasumura, 2019. "Living in the Restoration Public Housing after the Great East Japan Earthquake Correlates with Lower Subjective Well-Being of Older Adults," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(15), pages 1-14, July.
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    5. Mavhura, Emmanuel & Raj Aryal, Komal, 2023. "Disaster mortalities and the Sendai Framework Target A: Insights from Zimbabwe," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 165(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Natural disaster; Social capital; Subjective well-being; Treatment effect; Great East Japan Earthquake;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H84 - Public Economics - - Miscellaneous Issues - - - Disaster Aid
    • I31 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General Welfare, Well-Being
    • R29 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Household Analysis - - - Other

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